Part 1: Traffic Safety Takes Centre Stage as Residents Press PEC Council for Action - 06/25/2025

This was a long, dense Traffic Advisory Committee meeting, driven almost entirely by public safety concerns raised directly by residents. Traffic speed, pedestrian safety, and neighbourhood livability dominated the agenda from start to finish.

The meeting opened with some minor technical issues, but quorum was confirmed and the agenda and previous minutes were adopted. There were no deputations, but four registered public commenters, all tied to specific agenda items, set the tone early.

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The first public comment came from Christine Durant of the Macaulay Village Neighbourhood Group, speaking about London Avenue in Picton. She described a residential area with a high number of children and seniors, where speeding and failure to stop at signs have created repeated close calls. Her message was clear. London Avenue feels unsafe, especially for kids and people with mobility issues, and residents believe traffic calming is overdue. Speed bumps were specifically mentioned as a possible solution, along with better lighting.

Next was Gordie McDonnell, who lives along Loyalist Parkway near County Road 27. He described multiple vehicles leaving the roadway and entering his property, including near misses with a propane tank and parked vehicles. While one incident occurred during icy conditions, others happened in clear weather. His concern was not property damage, but the risk to children and grandchildren. Photos were submitted in advance and reviewed by the committee.

The third public comment, and one of the most emotionally charged, came from Kate Lavender, who lives on Main Street in Picton near Shire Hall. She described the absence of any safe crossing between Paul Street and Johnson Street, forcing families, seniors, and visitors to run across fast moving traffic. She shared multiple personal incidents, including aggressive driver behavior, and stressed that the nearest crosswalks are nearly a kilometer away. Her request was simple and urgent. A crosswalk or four way stop is needed now, not years from now, before someone is seriously hurt.

Her husband was also permitted to speak briefly, noting that construction slowdowns in the past actually improved traffic flow and safety, and that four way stops elsewhere in Picton have worked well without harming downtown movement.

The final public comment came from Adelaide Utman, a resident of Westwind Crescent in Wellington. She described a subdivision that has shifted rapidly from a quiet area to one with dozens of young children. Speeding, mostly by residents themselves, has become routine. Families feel unsafe even when supervising children closely. She and her neighbours are asking for seasonal speed bumps, arguing that signage alone has failed.

Following public comments, the committee formally received them and moved into the main agenda items, most of which corresponded directly to what residents had raised.

For London Avenue, the committee discussed traffic calming options, including temporary speed humps. Staff explained there are criteria tied to speed, volume, and design, and that installation is relatively quick but seasonal. Rather than deferring action until the new Traffic Calming Policy is fully adopted, the committee agreed to request a verbal staff report at a future meeting so the issue can move forward without unnecessary delay.

For Loyalist Parkway, staff confirmed that while guardrails are unlikely to be warranted, additional curve signage and reflective measures could be reviewed. Again, the committee requested a verbal report to look at options beyond what already exists.

The Main Street crosswalk request generated the most uncertainty. Staff confirmed that pedestrian movements were considered during the recent reconstruction, and that constraints related to Town Hill, merge lanes, and warrants made a crosswalk difficult. Several members acknowledged the “chicken and egg” problem.

If crossings are unsafe, people avoid them, and the data never shows enough pedestrian volume to justify improvements. Ultimately, the committee received the request but acknowledged that any change would require future budget consideration.

For Westwind Crescent, discussion focused on whether infrastructure is appropriate in what is essentially a closed residential system. Concerns were raised about speed bumps creating new problems and the fact that signage for “children at play” is restricted by provincial standards. The committee ultimately chose to receive the request without further action at this stage.

Additional items included receiving a request for warning signage on Downs Avenue, staff verbal reports on County Road 7 and South Big Island Road, and a detailed discussion of a loading zone bylaw amendment on Elizabeth Street in Picton, aimed at preventing delivery trucks from damaging a historic overhang and blocking traffic. Despite concerns about early morning noise near a residence, the committee supported the change.

A major milestone came with the committee endorsing the new Traffic Calming Policy, which sets out a clearer, more consistent framework for evaluating requests. While endorsement does not equal implementation, it allows the policy to move to senior staff review and then to Council.

The committee also agreed to collaborate with the Environmental Advisory Committee on developing an Active Transportation Strategy, appointing Kelly McGillivray and Councillor Sam Grosso as liaisons.

The meeting wrapped with receipt of the 2024 Annual Report to Council, updates from the Transit Strategy Task Team and the Senior Pedestrian Safety initiative, and confirmation that the next meeting will be held in September.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:45:053. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.